Occasionally I get to review a product (or line of products) that has been around for a long time, but that I’ve never reviewed. Platinum’s “Mix-Free” inks fall into that category. While Platinum has manufactured these inks for years, availability has been spotty at times, and the Mix-Free inks have never received the kind of attention you would expect for a product of this quality, especially given enthusiasts’ obsession with color-matching discontinued inks and the ability to create unique mixes from scratch.
Part of the issue is likely Platinum itself, which until recently never made much of an effort to promote their products heavily outside of Japan, and therefore trailed Pilot and Sailor as a “distant third” in terms of popular Japanese pen companies around the world. As Platinum’s limited and special edition pens have taken off in popularity, Platinum’s inks have also received more attention, including the Mix-Free line.
The nine base colors, unmixed. Ink swabs done on Canson White Mixed Media Paper. These colors are quite vibrant, and I plan to try out a few of them on their own.
How Do the Mix-Free Inks Work?
It’s pretty self-explanatory: Platinum sells nine base inks (Aqua Blue, Aurora Blue, Cyclamen Pink, Earth Brown, Flame Red, Leaf Green, Silky Purple, Smoke Black, and Sunny Yellow) that you can combine to form your own colors, whether that be your perfect shade of blue-black, or a reproduction of that long-discontinued Montblanc Writer’s edition ink. As long as you have a syringe or pipette and a sample vial or empty ink bottle, it’s quite easy to experiment. (I’d personally recommend a syringe, since it’s easier to get precise measurements.)
I’ve come up with two different mixes that I like a lot: a “Racing Green” mix, the base formula for which I found online and modified somewhat (Top) and a mix of my own creation that I refer to as “Alfred” (second from bottom). Montblanc Hitchcock is one of the hardest discontinued inks to duplicate, in part because of the rust-colored sheen it leaves. For now, I’m happy with how close I’ve gotten.
Formulas are: Racing Green (1 part Leaf Green, .5 parts Earth Brown, .5 parts Sunny Yellow, .3 parts Aurora Blue, and .3 parts Black); and “Alfred” (3 parts Earth Brown, 1 part Flame Red, 1 part Silky Purple, .5 parts Sunny Yellow). Forgive the janky measurements - for mixing purposes, equate “parts” with “milliliters” as measured on an ink syringe.
I’ve found the Mix-Free inks to be well-behaved and low-maintenance. The mixes that I use flow better than other Platinum inks (which can be on the dry side), and none of mine have feathered or bled on decent paper. I’ve also not had any trouble with staining or difficulty flushing the inks out of pens.
A Note of Caution: I’ve been warned by a couple different people that Platinum Mix-Free inks don’t “play nice” with Sailor and Pilot inks, due to their different chemical compositions. While I have used the Mix Free inks in pens that have previously held inks from Sailor and Pilot, I’ve always been sure to flush the pens thoroughly to avoid any clogging that might occur. If you are considering mixing inks, only mix the Platinum Mix-Free inks with other Platinum Mix Free inks, and not with inks from any other brand.
Takeaways and Where to Buy
I have had Platinum Mix-Free inks loaded into several pens more or less nonstop since early December. Sure, I’ve used ink lines exclusively for long stretches before, but eventually I do get tired of the same colors. Here, with the ability to change up the colors, that same risk of boredom doesn’t really exist, and you can experiment with creating your own unique mixes without worrying whether your signature ink is “safe” for all pens, since the ink is still made by a reputable pen company.
In recent years, Platinum Mix-Free Inks have been hard to find at times, but that’s changed as the brand has improved distribution and experienced a surge in popularity. Not only are these inks in stock, but they sit at an attractive price point and come in two bottle sizes: larger 60ml bottles and smaller 20ml bottles. Given there is only a $4 price difference between the two sizes (currently $16 vs. $12 at site sponsor Pen Chalet), the larger bottles are a no-brainer for me. If you don’t already have syringes, pipettes, and leftover ink sample vials or empty ink bottles to hold your new creations, you can also purchase a “mixing kit” for $16, which also contains “dilution liquid” (i.e. ink with no dye) to soften colors. I don’t have the kit or the dilution liquid, so I can’t speak to its capabilities, but I’d imagine you could simply use distilled water to achieve the same effect.
I’m really enjoying these inks and look forward to sharing new mixes in the future as I get more experience mixing the colors. Stay tuned! After I dial in the formulas, maybe I’ll giveaway some samples of my creations.
Disclaimer: This post contains links to paid sponsors and affiliates. I purchased the inks featured in this review from site sponsor Pen Chalet, using store credit generated through the Pen Chalet affiliate program, which is one of many ways I support the blog.